Summary
Episode 1 brings a baseline into Charles Sobhraj’s sinister world.
This recap of the BBC and Netflix series The Serpent episode 1 contains spoilers. The drama is already out in the UK on the BBC, but it will be released on Netflix on April 2, 2021.
The UK has already had the chance to enjoy this series, but now the release of The Serpent has been expanded to the USA. The first episode slowly brings the viewer into Charles Sobhraj’s sinister world.
The opening scene shows Charles Sobhraj in an interview; he’s asked whether he committed the murders, and he states that the courts have said no; there’s a slight smirk on his face when he suggests no court in the world can put him on trial. The sinister outlook of this story is apparent immediately.
Travelling the world
Episode 1 moves to November 27, 1975, in Bangkok, Thailand. Charles is enjoying a party at Kanit House, but then he ends up helping Marie-Andrée Leclerc with a man who is in a bad state. Charles and this woman enjoy identity fraud, seemingly using fake passports at airports and negotiating business deals in different cities while offering gem dealing. Charles and Marie-Andrée introduce each other as Alain and Monique. In later scenes, they offer a sapphire diamond on a platinum ring to a man named Wim so he can give it to his partner Lena. Their insistence to befriend this couple is creepy.
Dutch Embassy on alert
Episode 1 then flits to two months later in the Dutch embassy in Bangkok. Lawana speaks to Herman Knippenberg about a Mr Hilgers who is asking for help in locating his sister-in-law Helena Dekker (Lena) and Willem Blown (Wim), her boyfriend. He heads speaks to the Ambassador about the matter. The Ambassador tells him it’s not their job to look for missing backpackers. His wife Angela tells him he takes his job too seriously.
Episode 1 proves that governance and bureaucracy can get in the way of saving people’s lives.
Wonderful hospitality
The episode then moves to two months earlier, with the same couple enjoying their backpacking and heading to Bangkok. Lena and Win arrive at the airport, and Ajay (who works for Charles) picks them up. Lena and Wim enjoy their hospitality.
Checking their journey
Two months later and Herman keeps looking into Wim and Lena’s disappearance. The police do not seem cooperative. He meets Seimons from the Intergovernmental Narcotics Liaison Team. Seimons gives him advice on what to check for, i.e. did the couple even get to Thailand and collect their letters? Herman checks if Lena and Wim went to the Santa Cruz Hostel, but they never made it.
Teresa wanted to have experiences
Four months earlier; Teresa heads to the Santa Cruz Hostel. She befriends a woman named Celia, and they enjoy touring together. They end up taking to Ajay while having a few drinks. While they debate joining him at the party, Teresa tells Celia that she’s returning to a Buddhist Monastery after travelling — she’s going to be a nun — this is her opportunity to have her experiences. Teresa joins Ajay.
The story suggests that Charles and his acquaintance fed on the vulnerable as the first episode gets darker.
The unidentified bodies
4 months later; Herman is still investigating the missing backpackers. He learns about a couple of Australian travellers named Johnson and Rosanna Watson who was murdered; however, the cops learned it wasn’t their real names. The bodies are still unidentified.
Buy the gems
Two months earlier; Wim and Lena are still enjoying their hospitality with Charles and Marie-Andrée. Charles tells Wim that he can help him sell some gemstones and that “every man must one day make a home”. Later on, Marie-Andrée tells Lena to buy the gems as they are only trying to help — she’s insistent and looks worried.
Heading to the police station
Two months later; Herman is still persistent in finding the missing backpackers, getting his wife Angela to help him. They head to the police station in the Eastern Division.
Drugging Teresa
The Serpent episode 1 opens up the viewer to Charles’ world completely in the most disturbing scenes of the opening chapter.
Four months earlier; Ajay brings Teresa to a party and introduces her to Charles and Marie-Andrée. She enjoys the party and ends up getting close to Dominique. Charles talks to Teresa about being a gem dealer and how his friends help him smuggle. He tells her to explore the nightclubs before the night ends. As she leaves Kanit House, Dominique looks concerned. They head to a strip club, and Teresa absorbs the atmosphere, but suddenly she doesn’t feel right and wants to leave. As she gets up, she accuses Charles and Ajay of drugging her. Charles carries her into the car. No-one nearby bats an eyelid — there is a strong suggestion of complicity in the community.
The ending
In the car, Charles tells Teresa that she is vulgar because she throws herself at men like she throws herself at religion. Charles thinks they should throw her in the sea because she’s seen too much. Ajay looks concerned but agrees. Charles reminds him that he’s never being caught.
Two months later; Lena and Wim are feeling sick. Corresponding scenes show Herman looking at case files of burned dead bodies. Lena asks Marie-Andrée for help, but she walks off. Herman sees the clothing that says “Made In Holland” — he knows it’s the missing Dutch travellers. He wonders why no-one has done anything. The episode ends with Charles telling Lena to be quiet.
The Serpent episode 1 brings a baseline into Charles Sobhraj’s sinister world.
